Selected Political News for W/E 2nd Sept 2012 + comments

Monday 27th AugustTopic: Nepotism - Bonuses - Civil-servantsHeadline "100+ senior civil servants got five-figure bonuses last year."Source: Daily StarExtract: The number of public sector fat cats grabbing more than £10,000 on top of their salaries has doubled since 2011.

One defence official scooped a £100,000 boost to his £160,000 wage - prompting the Government yesterday to defend Whitehall's pay policy.

Ten civil servants were handed more than £30,000, while a highways chief pocketed £35,000 extra.

But despite PM David Cameron's previous attacks on bonuses, the Government insisted the huge handouts were needed to motivate staff during a pay freeze.

Comments:Government insisted the huge handouts were needed to motivate staff during a pay freeze? The first response I thought of was one word, the ending in, ___locks!

Tuesday 28th AugustTopic: ParliamentHeadline "Houses of Parliament could close for five years for repairs"Source: BBC NewsExtract: Parliament could be convened in a replica chamber or a conference centre for the duration of the repair work, which could start in 2015.

The Sunday Times has reported the refurbishment could cost about £3bn.

A Commons spokesman said a study into the long-term upkeep of the Palace of Westminster is under way. Its findings are to be discussed by the year's end.

Comment:It's the Members of Parliament that need repair... to their honesty glands, truth tissues, nepotist tendencies, and greed groins!

Ms Abbott, a regular guest with former Tory MP Michael Portillo and presenter Andrew Neil, has been paid many thousands in appearance fees.

The BBC claimed rules banning payments to MPs representing their parties did not apply as This Week was not a "normal" political show.

But this was rejected by the Trust.

The Trust also ruled the MP's appearances had been "too frequent" since she became a shadow minister.

Comments:Some can get away with, other not it seems!

Thursday 30th AugustTopic: MigrationHeadline "UK net migration numbers decrease"Source: BBC NewsExtract: The Office for National Statistics said that estimated net migration in the year to December 2011 was 216,000 - down from 252,000 the previous year.

It said the fall was not statistically significant, but ministers say separate figures show they are on course.

Net migration is the number of people entering the UK, minus those leaving.

The government has a target to cut net migration to tens of thousands by the end of the Parliament.

Speaking after the release of the latest figures, Immigration Minister Damian Green said he was "confident" that target would be met.

Comments:It's the immigration figures, both legal and illegal that concerns us most!

Friday 31st AugustTopic: Austerity - Nepotism - CouncillorsHeadline "Councillors gave themselves pay hikes of up to 28% despite being told to slash costSource: The SunExtract: While most Brits tightened their belts, some local authorities upped the allowances paid to councillors for their time and expenses.

Out of 434 councils, only 35 followed government advice and CUT allowances in 2010-11, the TaxPayers' Alliance report found.

The 28 per cent hike was by Boston Borough Council, Lincs.The amount claimed varied greatly from one council to the next.

While Northants county councillors claimed £7,000 a year, their counterparts in Notts raked in a whopping £13,800.

"These councils should be publicly held to account."

Comments: Held to account... like the MP's are... hah!"

Saturday 1st SeptemberTopic: Boris Johnson - TwitterHeadline "Boris Johnson has been answering questions from people on Twitter - and couldn't resist having a bit of fun."Source: The SunExtract: Asked by one critic: "Why are you such a freak?", he replied: "Mainly genetic."

But he declined to answer the questions "How do you safely use a zip wire without getting stuck?", "Would you shag, marry or kill Cheryl Cole?" and "Do you cut your own hair or pay someone to do that to you?"

Comments:"Would you shag, marry or kill Cheryl Cole?" That's an unfair question... and makes you shudder when you read it!

Sunday 2nd SeptemberTopic: Coalition - LibDems - Nick CleggHeadline "Few people will weep for weak Nick, says Roy Hattersley"Source: Sunday MirrorExtract: Those of us who have always regarded Nick Clegg as a third-rate politician need to revise our opinions. He is clearly far worse than that. His sudden announcement that a new tax should be levied on the very rich proves it.

In principle he is right. Top earners pay too little tax while those on low wages pay too much.

But Clegg's speech, far from bringing the change about, was certain to provoke the Chancellor into immediately announcing the tax rise was not going to happen. Budget changes are agreed in private meetings, not promoted in papers.

If Clegg knows that, but chose to pretend he was making a serious bid for change, he is too dishonest to be Deputy Prime Minister. If he did not know that, he is too ­stupid.

The sad truth is that Clegg has lost the support of most of the party which he is supposed to lead. The Liberal Democrats joined the Tory-led coalition on the pretext that a strong government was needed to see Britain through the economic crisis.

Thanks to Clegg's weakness, they have been sucked into supporting the first steps towards privatising the health service, the slashing of the social security budget and the increase in students' tuition fees which every Liberal Democrat candidate vowed to resist.

Comments: In principle he is right. So why knock him? He's in enough of a pickle as it is?